The Final Lowdown on Stopping Stink Naturally: Ask Chicky!

Eco-chick, I have a question. I have tried many, many eco-happy deodorants, and I always end up smelling quite unwholesome by the end of the day. I even had to make an emergency trip to Duane Reade today for some aluminum-B.O. warfare. Do you have any advice for us extra-stinky folk?

Yours,
Not-So-Brad Pitts

Mr. Pitts,

Deodorant is only half the battle (literally) to living a low-stink life, and is the last step. Many people expect to spray, roll-on or otherwise apply deodorant/antiperspirants and POOF! never produce odors again, but often they are not addressing the underlying cause of their smelliness. And then using a bunch of nasty chemicals to cover it up.

First, there is a difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. Deodorants kill or reduce the number of bacteria under your arms (bacteria creates odor). I use a natural deodorant, never smell, but DO perspire under my arms if I’m hot or really, really nervous. This is natural and normal, and as long as I don’t smell, I’m OK with it. I use a deodorant and not an antiperspirant because most of the bad stuff you hear about in regards to deodorant/antiperspirant comes from the metals (aluminum) which stop sweat in antiperspirants.

While it has not been proven that using aluminum-containing antiperspirants is a health risk, I live by the Precautionary Principle- we know that heavy metals aren’t good for our bodies, and are known to cause Alzheimer’s and cancer in lab animals, so I’m not taking the risk. Also, women may be at higher risk from whatever’s in their deodorant/antiperspirant, which can enter the body more easily through microscopic cuts when we shave under our arms (I do).

1. A healthy diet will result in a low-stink person. People who eat junk tend to smell like it- and heavy meat-eaters are particularly stinky! If you eat lots of whole foods, fruits and veggies, drink plenty of water, you WILL smell less right off the bat.

2. Sweating is one of your body’s ways of cooling and cleansing itself. Regular, sweat-producing exercise will make you feel better and you’ll get rid of the toxins we all collect every time you work out, resulting in less smelliness overall.

3. Many people’s bodies have totally overadjusted to what I call Evil Corporate Antiperspirant. This happened to me; I used Secret roll-on all through high school, totally sold by the ads and terrified of having B.O. in high school. By college, I felt like no matter how much antiperspirant I put on, I was still sweating profusely. I almost went as far as to get some of that prescription-level deo, but then a friend told me she was having the same problem with Secret, and I decided it wasn’t me, it was the antiperspirant. I learned that antiperspirant is like crack- the more you use, the more you need- because your body wants to sweat the toxins out, but can’t! So take an antiperspirant/deodorant break for a week, just let your underarms flush out and just wash with soap and water often. Your body will re-set and soon you’ll be sweating at normal levels, which are generally pretty low (this worked for both myself and my friend).

4. People naturally don’t smell that much as long as they regularly wash- wash under your arms with a good natural soap (NOT a deodorant soap!) every day or so, whatever deodorant you use.

5. If you have a decent diet, regularly exercise, and wash regularly, and have unhooked from the Evil Corporate Deo (packed with nasty artificial chemicals, fragrances, etc.) THEN use Kiss My Face roll-on liquid rock deodorant (see my love-fest about it: http://eco-chick.com/2007/03/10/this-natural-deoderant-really-works/). I’ve tried a lot of natural deodorants, and this one just kicks ass, AND comes in lovely scents, or unscented.

6. Always apply deodorant right after a shower, before bacteria has a chance to sprout. I can go two days without a shower or a reapplication of deodorant using this system, which was definitely NOT the case when my pits were addicted to the corporate stuff.

antiperspirant, bath, beauty products, deodorant

Starre Vartan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Eco-Chick and author of The Eco-Chick Guide to Life (St. Martin's Press). A problogger and oft-quoted green living expert who has been featured in the NYTimes, Elle, Glamour and Whole Living, she is a contributor to The Huffington Post, Inhabitat, and Hearst's The Daily Green, and is currently editor-at-large for Coco Eco Magazine. An active ecofashionista, she has style edited for Plenty magazine and coordinated runway shows. She splits her time between Connecticut and NYC and calls Sydney, Australia her second home, even though it was her first (as that's where she was born and most of her family resides). When not writing, blogging, or researching her next book, she is trailrunning, trying to cook, or snowboarding.

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10 Comments on “The Final Lowdown on Stopping Stink Naturally: Ask Chicky!”

Paige
I struggled with this dilemma too for a while, and finally found that the JASON brand sold at Whole Foods and drugstore.com works pretty well and comes in some lovely, natural scents! I just make sure I can shower right after Pilates!
11/24/08 » 3:16 pm »
JRD
Within the last month I switched from an aluminum anti-persperant to a deodorant by Alba, specifically the Clear Enzyme stick with tea trea, baking soda and lichen. For the first few days I had to reapply a couple times because I was starting to get a little ripe. After the 4th or 5th day though, I found I needed it less and eventually found I could go a day without applying and still be okay! The scent is light and lovely, kinda minty actually, and there’s no horrible chemicals in there!
11/24/08 » 7:20 pm »
Kaitie
I found that antiperspirant/deoderant just makes me sweat like crazy, I don’t usually sweat without it. If I do sweat or anticipate sweating, I use baking soda! It works great and the smell is reduced greatly! Plus it’s cheap.
11/26/08 » 11:38 am »
Lynn
Thanks for the information! I’ve been planning to break away from aluminum-based antiperspirants and this will help me a lot.
12/01/08 » 3:14 am »
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12/08/08 » 7:54 am »
Deb
I love Erbaviva’s Organic Deodorant. They have to , but I am a Lemon Sage girl. It is USDA certified and works great. http://www.erbaviva.com/catego.....;subcat=18 They are running a special 20% with promo code HOLIDAY until the 23rd of Dec!!!
12/08/08 » 5:21 pm »
Shannon
Origins has a great deoderant- its a pump spray and its amazing! It works better than any deoderant, chemical or natural,that I have ever used. Has a strong plant -like smell.
09/03/09 » 5:43 am »